Front Headlock Choke

The D'Arce choke from turtle is a species where the head-and-arm strangle is applied against an opponent who has assumed the turtle (all-fours) position. [1] The attacker positions to the side of the turtled opponent, slides the near arm under the chin and through the gap between the neck and the far arm, threading until a figure-four or palm-to-palm grip can be locked on the far side. [1,2] The turtle position exposes the neck-and-arm channel because the opponent's elbows are typically planted on the mat, creating a natural gap for the D'Arce thread. [2] Once the grip is secured, the attacker rolls the opponent to their side or sprawls heavy to complete the compression. [2,3] This entry is particularly common in wrestling-heavy grappling where opponents frequently turtle to avoid guard passes. [3]

The forearm-wrap guillotine is the classical guillotine choke — the attacker wraps one arm around the opponent's neck from the front, clasps hands, and squeezes while pulling upward to compress the throat and/or carotids. [1,2] Variations include the high-elbow guillotine (Marcelotine), which uses an elevated elbow position to create a tighter seal and more effective blood choke, and the arm-in guillotine, which traps the opponent's arm alongside the neck. [3]

Fulcrum front headlock chokes use the attacker's body (typically the hip, shoulder, or posted arm) as a fulcrum point to amplify the choking pressure from a front headlock position. [1,2] Rather than relying solely on arm strength, the attacker drives the opponent's neck into a fixed point while applying a headlock, creating leverage-based compression. [3]

Gator-roll wraps combine a front headlock choke grip with a rolling motion (the 'gator roll') to take the opponent to the ground while maintaining choking pressure. [1] The anaconda choke is the defining technique: the attacker threads an arm from the inside (opposite direction from a D'Arce), locks a figure-four around the head and arm, then performs a gator roll to tighten the squeeze and land in a dominant finishing position. [2,3]

The cattle choke from standing headlock is a species where the bulldog-style compression strangle is applied while both practitioners are on their feet, with the attacker controlling the opponent's head in a standing headlock. [1] The attacker wraps one arm tightly around the opponent's neck from the side, trapping the head against the attacker's ribcage, then reinforces with the free hand to squeeze both sides of the neck simultaneously. [1,2] Standing application adds the threat of snap-down or takedown as auxiliary pressure, compelling the opponent to fight the choke while also managing balance and takedown defence. [2] This species is frequently seen in MMA and self-defence contexts where the fight begins on the feet. [2,3] The attacker may finish standing or transition to the ground while maintaining the choke throughout. [3]

The Japanese Necktie is a front headlock choke/crank hybrid that combines elements of the D'Arce choke and the front headlock guillotine — the attacker threads the choking arm under the opponent's armpit and around the neck from the front headlock position, using a figure-four or clasp grip to create bilateral compression. [1] The technique creates both a choking/strangling action and a cervical crank simultaneously, making it extremely uncomfortable and difficult to defend. [1,2]

Necktie-lever chokes use a necktie grip (arm draped over the back of the opponent's neck) combined with a leg or body lever to apply choking pressure. [1] The Peruvian necktie is the primary technique: the attacker secures a front headlock, steps a leg over the opponent's back, and sits back, using the leg as a lever to drive the forearm into the throat. [2,3]

Reverse-wrap front chokes apply choking pressure from the front headlock using a reverse grip configuration — the choking arm wraps in the opposite direction from a standard guillotine. [1] This can involve wrapping the arm from the far side of the neck, or using an inverted grip that creates compression from a different angle than the standard front choke. [2,3]

The wrist choke from front headlock is a species of the wrist-control-assisted front choke family where the attacker uses the bony edge of their own wrist as the primary choking surface against the opponent's neck. [1] From a standard front headlock position, the attacker drives the radial bone (wrist bone) across the opponent's throat or carotid arteries while the opposite hand controls the back of the head, preventing escape. [1,2] Unlike forearm-based chokes that use the soft inner forearm, the wrist choke concentrates pressure on a narrow, hard surface — the distal radius — creating intense localised compression. [2] The front headlock provides the necessary head control to keep the opponent's neck pressed firmly against the wrist. [2,3] This technique is legal in most rulesets but can cause significant discomfort even at low pressure levels. [3]